There is a small yet powerful innovation that is now hitting the road of Las Vegas. The small self-driving bus called Arma has started its pilot test last January 11 and will end on January 20.
Arma marks another milestone for the mass transportation in the U.S. The test pilot of the autonomous bus is the very first driverless bus that has transported the public on the busy street of America.
Arma runs a short journey along the busy streets of Las Vegas, which is just about three blocks. The small bus runs with a high-speed limit of 16 miles per hour, but can also get speedier at a maximum of 30.
Although the self-driving bus is fully automated, it is currently running with a staff on board to check on the passengers' safety. It has sensors to detect any road obstructions and the passengers can also opt to stop the vehicle at any particular time via an emergency button.
French-owned bus manufacturer Navya has partnered with Keolis, the transit operator, to proceed with the test pilot in Las Vegas. Aside from Las Vegas, Navya has also began testing the autonomous bus in the busy streets of France, Australia and Singapore, Fortune reported.
Furthermore, Mid Day Daily has detailed that the autonomous bus' short route in Las Vegas covers the Fremont Street 128 and 723, which is in between the 8th Street and Las Vegas Boulevard. The total distance of the short route is about 0.2 miles. Margaret Kurtz, Las Vegas city spokesperson, mentioned that they have temporarily closed off a portion of Fremont Street to give way for a smooth journey of the Arma bus.
Technically, the Arma bus has a maximum capacity of 15 people on board. Although it only serves 11 seats, it has an ample standing aisle for additional 4 people.
The test pilot of the Arma bus begins at 10 A.M. and ends at 7 P.M. Commuters and interested passengers may enjoy the autonomous bus free of charge during the testing period. Will you be interested to try this self-driving bus?
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